La Prele Dam geotechnical drilling, Douglas, Wyoming
La Prele Dam geotechnical drilling, Douglas, Wyoming
La Prele Dam geotechnical drilling, Douglas, Wyoming
La Prele Dam geotechnical drilling, Douglas, Wyoming
La Prele Dam geotechnical drilling, Douglas, Wyoming
La Prele Dam geotechnical drilling, Douglas, Wyoming

DA Smith returned to Douglas, Wyoming in August 2022 to complete Phase 2 of RESPEC's investigative geotechnical drilling program at the La Prele dam, the oldest and tallest open-front dam in the US.  DA Smith completed Phase 1 of the geotechnical drilling program in summer 2021.  Both programs included vertical and angled HQ3 core drilling, HSA borings, Lugeon water pressure (packer) testing, and downhole televiewer and sonic logging.  Drilling was conducted in the stream channel and from steep roadways downstream of the dam.  Two holes were drilled via helicopter access at a cliff-top location to characterize a potential dam abutment.  The campaign was completed successfully and on schedule in October before the arrival of winter weather.